Subsistence for Dummies

Subsistence is a word that describes the basic needs that we as humans require in order to survive. Imagine for a moment that you are building a house. When you start, you need to lay a strong foundation, right? Well, think of subsistence as the foundation of our lives. It's the crucial elements that keep us going, just like the strong foundation holds up the rest of the house.

Now, there are actually two definitions of subsistence that we can explore. The first definition refers to the bare minimum of what we need to survive, like food, water, shelter, and clothing. These are the essential things that we cannot live without. Think of subsistence as the very basic building blocks that make up our existence, just like each brick is necessary to build a solid wall.

But there's another way to look at subsistence too. It can also mean the act of living or surviving in a particular way, especially when resources are limited. You can think of this definition as how we make the most out of the resources we have. It's like using every tool in your toolbox to accomplish a task, even if it's challenging. Subsistence in this context refers to adapting and finding creative ways to go on, even when things are tough.

So, in a nutshell, subsistence is all about the basic necessities we need to sustain life, and it's also about finding innovative ways to keep going even when resources are limited. It's like the foundation of a house and the ingenuity to make it work despite challenges. Remember, just like a house needs a solid foundation, our lives need subsistence to thrive and survive.